Eagle Financial Services Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

Second-quarter profit was boosted by a one-time gain from the sale of Eagle Financial Services’ stake in Bering Insurance Group. Excluding that item, adjusted net income fell to $2.2 million, or $0.41 per share. Core banking performance improved as net interest income rose 6.7% sequentially to $16.9 million and net interest margin expanded to 3.86%. Management credited loan growth, lower borrowing costs after repaying FHLB advances, and better deposit/funding mix. Credit costs and problem assets increased, with provision expense reaching $3.2 million and nonperforming assets rising to $16.5 million. The company said the issues are concentrated in a few previously identified credits rather than reflecting broad portfolio weakness.

Eagle Financial Services NASDAQ: EFSI reported second-quarter net income of $5 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, including a one-time gain from the sale of its ownership interest in Bering Insurance Group. Excluding that gain, adjusted net income was $2.2 million, or $0.41 per diluted share. Chief Executive Officer Brandon Lorey said adjusted earnings declined from the prior quarter primarily because of higher provision expense tied to identified credit relationships and continued reserve strengthening. Still, he pointed to growth in net interest income, expansion in net interest margin, loan growth and funding improvements as evidence of progress in the company’s core banking operations.

Net interest income rose 6.7% from the first quarter to $16.9 million, while net interest margin expanded 23 basis points sequentially to 3.86%. The margin was also 44 basis points higher than a year earlier. Chief Financial Officer Kate Chappell attributed the improvement to loan growth, the elimination of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowing costs after the company repaid all advances in March, and continued improvements in deposit mix and funding costs. The quarter also included approximately five basis points of benefit from above-average fees and prepayment penalties. Chappell said Eagle Financial Services expects net interest margin to move to approximately 3.75% during the second half of 2026. The company’s reported return on average assets was 1.08%, while reported return on average equity was 10.35%.

Net loans increased by $39.5 million during the quarter, supported by demand in construction, commercial real estate and commercial-and-industrial lending, according to management. Chief Banking Officer Joe Zmitrovich said growth was broad-based across those categories and that the company’s lending pipeline remained healthy. Residential mortgage settlements increased 19% year over year, Zmitrovich said, contributing to higher gain-on-sale and fee income. Total assets ended the quarter at $1.85 billion, while deposits increased modestly to $1.62 billion. Lorey said deposits remained stable, liquidity was robust, capital levels were above well-capitalized thresholds, and the company retained significant borrowing capacity if needed.

Provision expense totaled $3.2 million in the second quarter. Chappell said the increase reflected changes in certain historical loss factors, higher qualitative adjustments, loan growth and higher specific reserves associated with identified credits. Nonperforming assets rose to $16.5 million, or 0.89% of total assets. The increase was largely driven by one commercial real estate relationship being placed on nonaccrual status, according to Chappell. The company completed updated collateral evaluations and established specific reserves where appropriate, she said, adding that most nonaccrual balances are secured by.